Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 15h

Platner is a proponent of a Medicare for All health care system, a position that 72% of voters in Maine support.

He has also voiced support for a billionaires tax, which is supported by 79% of Mainers.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 15h

Platner is a military veteran and oyster farmer making his first run for public office.

So far, less than half of voters polled have heard of the 40-year-old newcomer.

The 45% of voters who have heard of Platner, however, feel overwhelmingly positive about him.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 15h

After respondents were shown short biographies for both Platner and Gov. Janet Mills—who is rumored to launch a run soon—Platner led Collins by 14 points, while Mills led Collins by 8 points.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 15h

NEW: Democratic oyster farmer Graham Platner is the candidate best positioned to defeat Susan Collins in Maine's Senate race, according to a poll of likely voters conducted by Zenith Research for More Perfect Union.

Poll: Platner Best Positioned Maine Dem to Defeat Susan Collins

After respondents were shown short biographies for both candidates, Graham Platner leads Sen. Susan Collins by 14 points, while Gov. Janet Mills leads Collins by 8 points.

substack.perfectunion.us

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 20h

BREAKING: Trump’s budget chief Russ Vought says that “reduction in force,” or mass firings of federal workers, have begun — a move that is likely illegal.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 21h

There's a bill on Gavin Newsom's desk right now that would stop monopoly utility companies from adding the costs of their lobbying and PR campaigns into customers' bills.

It's unclear if Newsome will sign the bill, despite 93% of voters agreeing with its premise.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 22h

Morgan Stanley will now allow crypto investments in any type of account, including retirement accounts.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 23h

Corporate income taxes are $77 billion lower than last year, primarily due to the Republican tax cuts for the rich.

itep.org/trump-tax-la...

Well, That Was Fast: Trump Tax Law’s New Corporate Breaks are Already Worsening the Deficit

Corporate income taxes for the fiscal year that ended in September are $77 billion lower than in the previous year, a 15 percent drop.

itep.org

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US has finalized a plan to give $20 billion to Argentina.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

"Officials from Australia, Wales, South Korea, Canada, Norway, Lithuania, Estonia, “northern European arts councils and the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU” have sought briefings on the scheme, the Minister said."

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Numerous countries express interest in Government’s basic income for artists pilot scheme

Minister for Culture committed to making the scheme permanent if funding is secured in budget

www.irishtimes.com

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

Ireland has approved plans to permanently implement a basic income program that will support up to 2,200 artists.

A cost-benefit analysis found that for every €1 invested, society receives €1.39 back.

Officials from other countries are now expressing interest in the program.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

The average price for a used car is now over $26,000.

We're back in the used car pricing apocalypse

Used car prices are heading higher thanks to tariffs, supply chain slowdowns, and automakers cutting back on new vehicle options.

www.businessinsider.com

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a bill that would make unemployment benefits available to workers who are on strike.

www.unionprogress.com/2025/10/09/p...

Pa. House approves bill opening unemployment benefits to striking workers - Pittsburgh Union Progress

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill that would make unemployment compensation benefits available to workers who go on strike in the commonwealth. The sponsors of the leg...

www.unionprogress.com

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

There are now one or two of Elon Musk's Starlink satellites falling back to Earth every single day.

According to Smithsonian astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, that figure is only going to keep climbing.

futurism.com/space/elon-m...

Elon Musk's Satellites Now Constantly Falling Out of the Sky

Multiple Starlink satellites from Elon Musk's SpaceX are falling to Earth every single day, an astronomer warns — and counting.

futurism.com

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

A majority of the 500 biggest U.S. companies now pay for their CEOs to fly on private jets.

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Reposted by More Perfect Union

California Fast Food Workers Union @cafastfoodunion.org · 2d

BREAKING: Burger King workers are on strike in Oakland due to pregnancy discrimination.

The store cut our coworker’s hours because she is pregnant and asked for accommodations to ensure a safe pregnancy. 🧵

#UnionsForAll

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d

Utility rates are rising in 41 states due to the increased demand from data centers on the electric grid.

www.businessinsider.com/energy-conse...

AI data centers are driving up electricity bills. Energy-saving hacks might not help lower them.

Data centers are driving up consumers' electricity costs, but experts say energy conservation hacks won't lower bills much. Here's what to do instead.

www.businessinsider.com

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d

From 2017 to 2024, the number of data centers in the U.S. increased from 318 to 5,208.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d

Microsoft has withdrawn its proposal for a data center in a Milwaukee suburbs after community pushback.

After opposition from area residents and elected officials the 244 acre Caledonia project will not proceed.

Microsoft drops Caledonia data center after facing opposition. Company looking for new site

Outcry from residents and elected officials caused Microsoft to drop the Caledonia plan. But the company is seeking an alternative site.

www.jsonline.com

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d

"For instance, CNBC found that one Microsoft data center in Illinois received more than $38 million in data center sales tax exemptions but created just 20 permanent jobs."

www.cnbc.com/2025/06/20/t...

In race to attract data centers, states can forfeit hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue to tech companies

Amazon, Meta and Google are among the beneficiaries of state tax exemptions for data centers that help power AI.

www.cnbc.com

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Reposted by More Perfect Union

Read the book Starting Somewhere @jphillll.bsky.social · 2d

Classic big tech. It’s not enough to destroy the planet, everyone else has to subsidize it too.

More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d

37 states have passed legislation specifically granting sales tax exemptions for data centers.

Among the beneficiaries of these exemptions are Amazon, Meta and Google, all companies worth over $1 trillion.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d

37 states have passed legislation specifically granting sales tax exemptions for data centers.

Among the beneficiaries of these exemptions are Amazon, Meta and Google, all companies worth over $1 trillion.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d

And more older Americans are now living in poverty.

"The poverty rate among U.S. seniors rose to 15% last year from 14% in 2023, the highest among all age groups, according to Census data."

www.cbsnews.com/news/low-inc...

For older Americans, the cost of poverty is 9 years of life, study finds

Low-income older Americans on average die nearly a decade earlier than wealthier people, a new analysis finds.

www.cbsnews.com

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d

The lowest income Americans live to 76, on average.

The wealthiest Americans are living to an average age of 85.

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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 3d

Vulnerable patients are getting signed up for medical credit cards—in some cases while they’re still on anesthesia.

These cards are creating a new frontier of medical debt.

Some patients are even getting sued over debt from cards they don’t remember signing up for.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=81uZ...

Billionaire Banks Found a New Way To Trap You In Debt

YouTube video by More Perfect Union

www.youtube.com

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